EFSA’s updated risk assessments on the potential risks to bees from neonicotinoid pesticides will be finalised in February 2018.

The assessments for clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam will be finalised following a final round of consultation with pesticide experts in the Member States.

Jose Tarazona, head of EFSA’s Pesticides Unit, said: “This has been a very complex process. Our call for data generated a very large volume of additional information, which we have considered carefully.

“Additional elements were raised during the consultation with experts from the Member States, and we now want to make sure that these partners have the opportunity to look at the revised assessments before finalising our conclusions.”

The European Commission imposed restrictions on the use of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam in 2013 following earlier risk assessments carried out by EFSA